Electric smokeless and odorless incinerator



Feb. 24, 1970 G. LA RUE 3,

ELECTRIC SMOKELESS AND ODORLESS INCINERATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r9 TT'ORNE Y5 Feb. 24, 1970 P. G. LA RUE 3,496,890

ELECTRIC SMOKELESS AND ODORLESS INCINERATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HTTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1970 P. G. LA RUE ELECTRIC SMOKELESS AND ODORLESS INGINERATOR Filed Nov. 6. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

. ua/e yzzww FITTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 1108 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An incinerator and method for combusting refuse wherein the charge of refuse to be burned is placed in a primary combustion chamber Where it is ignited by heating elements mounted therein. An afterburner is provided in communicating relation with a primary combustion chamber for reburning the smoke and gases as they flow from the primary chamber through the afterburner. The remaining unburned refuse in the primary chamber is then dried by a second heating device mounted in the primary chamber before being burned. The igniting elements may suitably be open coil resistance wires which are protected by a grid which is placed between the heating elements in the primary chamber and and the charge of refuse placed therein. The second heating element in the primary chamber is preferably spaced from the bottom of the primary chamber.

This disclosure deals with incinerators and relates to smokeless and odorless incinerators for homes for burning garbage and other household refuse, and for removing smoke and odors from the off-gases thereof. 1

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a timer controlled, multiple-chambered incinerator unit in which garbage and refuse is dried, ignited and burned, and the products of primary combustion are also burned and converted to carbon dioxide and water, both of which are odorless and colorless.

Still a further object is to provide a plurality of: strategically located openings of electrode elements for, ignition of the charge to be incinerated.

A further object still is to provide a housing so positioned and arranged that when the charge is ignited the flame completely envelopes the charge so that the smoke and odor given off must travel through the fire as they move to the afterburner and flue outlet.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional, side elevational view of the incinerator, the numerous arrows indicating the path of travel of the air, flame and smoke.

FIG. 2. is a sectional, front elevational view, parts; being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional, plan view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG 1, the grate being omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic, front elevational view.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the timer mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of my inven-: tion only, the numeral 8 indicates the outer shell or casing of a downdraft type incinerator having side walls 8a, a rear wall 8b, a front wall 9 with foil insulation,

a top wall 10, and a top loading door 11, which is hingedly connected at 12 as usual. The casing 8 houses an inner liner normally designated 13, having side walls 13a, a front wall 13b, a rear wall 13c, and a top wall 13d. Burner elements C which are of the open coil resistance wire type are mounted on the side walls 13a of the casing 13, which forms an individual chamber 14, and a grill or screen 16 provides a relief area or passageway 17 leading to an entrance opening A in a secondary combustion chamber. The chamber 18 houses an afterburner assembly 19, comprising elliptical shaped rings 20-20 connected by vertical rods 20a. Masonry walls 21 form the walls of the chamber 18 which has an exit opening 22 for exhausting the residue of flue gases to the flue outlet F, and a member 21a forms a closure for the upper end of chamber 18.

The afterburner 19 includes electric heating elements of the open coil resistance wire type, the wires 23 being staggered to make the flame, smoke, and odor path as tortuous as possible, and the open coils are strategically spaced apart so that the flame, smoke, etc., must pass between the wires, as well as around them, thus insuring maximum contact with the off-gases.

A plurality of igniter elements C are mounted on the side walls of the primary combustion chamber 14 for ignition of the charge (not shown), and these are protected by grills or screens 24, which are hung on supports 25, said screens spacing the charge (not shown), and preventing its coming into direct contact with the electric elements, and V-shaped air or flame passages 26 are provided in the front and side walls of the chamber, permitting free flow of the flame, smoke and odor to the rear passageway 17 provided by the rear screen 16 and the afterburner combustion chamber 18.

The horizontally disposed primary burner H comprises an electric element 27 that is encased in a shield 28 which has an enlarged end section 29, said shield extending from the front of the combustion chamber rear- Wardly, and projects into the opening 30 provided in the rear of grill or screen 16. This horizontally disposed burner H is in the form of an inverted horseshoe, it being open at the bottom so that the radiant rays of approximately, l,100 F. play on any refuse (not shown), lying on the grate 31. The burner H is spaced above the grate 31 and openings 32 are provided in the side walls of the shield to permit the ready flow of heat to the refuse (not shown). These electrical elements 27 are centrally controlled by an electrical mechanism, and an access door D is provided in the wrapper 8 to provide ready access to the interior, and the addition of secondary oxygen X which enters the inner case through openings 41 and pass rearward under grate to opening in bottom of secondary chamber 18 to revitalize the off gases and promote secondary combustion.

The electric elements 23 are centrally controlled by an electrical sequence timing means T, see FIG. 5 of the drawings, and a schematic switch 36 is included for the purpose of clarifying the method of cycling the burners.

The elements C, 23 and 27 are controlled by three different cam switches 37, 38 and 39 in the timer T, and a channel shaped support and spacer element 40 is interposed between the members 16 and 21, and vents 41 are provided in the lower inner case sides.

In practice, refuse and garbage is first placed in the combustion chamber 14 and the timer T is turned to the on position. This automatically closes cam switch 37 which permits the electricity to flow to the series of resistance elements of the afterburner. A preheat period of the afterburner is used to stimulate the chimney draft and bring the secondary chamber to a temperature of approximately 1,100 E, which is the temperature found most suitable for destroying smoke and odor. At the end of the preheat period, the cam switches 33 and 39 are closed, and the electricity flows to the side ignition elements C, and the lower horizontal burner H. The ignition elements C are of the open coiled resistance Wire type and become incandescent almost immediately, it being important to hold smoldering to a minimum as active burning by flame is of utmost importance.

This arrangement provides a long flame path to and through the secondary chamber and creates a turbulence along the way due to the elliptical shape of the afterburner chamber. Member 27 is of metallic sheath type construction; it is encased in shield 28 and requires approximately five minutes to reach operating temperature. During this period it is of little value to the burning process, but when it reaches operating temperature it brings the entire refuse shield 28 to a red glow and emits radiant or infra-red rays which are known to be one of the best methods of rapid drying and positive combustion of the charge once the combustible material has been ignited. When the timer T is turned on, and the secondary chamber is preheating, the chimney draft is being stimulated, this draws room air into the air space through louvers 42 to air opening 45, located under the top loading door 11 and passes downward through the refuse and garbage charge (not shown), but which is deposited in the primary combustion chamber 14, or by the passageway 17a along the sides by grills 16 and door 11 into the areaway provided by rear grill 16 and masonry stack 21.. The flame, smoke and odors then enter the afterburner throng inlet opening A into the afterburner 19 which is formed of open coiled resistance wire type elements, and is so designed that the wires are staggered to make the flame, smoke and odor path as tortuous as possible on the way to the flue outlet.

The opened coils are also strategically spaced apart so that the flame, smoke and odor must pass between their loops as well as around them, thereby providing maximum contact with the off-gases. The scrubbing of the gases, plus turbulence and elevated temperatures and secondary oxygen promotes secondary combustion, and the hydrocarbon type off-gas are reburned and reduced to carbon dioxide and water vapors, both of which are odorless and colorless. The off-gases are then allowed to flow to the chimney and up the flue to the outside atmosphere. This completes the means developed in reducing refuse and garbage to the desired end through the use of electricity.

The built-in air diluter 43 also serves a multiple purpose. It regulates the rate of combustion in the primary chamber and allows a predetermined residence time of the off-gases in chamber 19 for contact with the open coiled afterburner element 23. Because of its shape and relationship to the secondary chamber the gases can be spun by controlling the air flow through the chamber 18. It also exhausts the excess heated air located between the inner and outer casings of the unit through an annualr opening 44 provided by the diluter 43 and the flue outlet 22. This also reduces the stack temperature by mixing the lower temperature air With the heated off-gases and allows it to pass to the chimney flue pipe F. After the combustible material is ignited, the igniter elements C are shut off by the cam switch 38, and only the lower horizontal burner 27 and afterburner 19 are in use. As the drying is accomplished and the gases are driven off, the afterburner 19 consumes them as previously described. When the drying is completed, the charge reignites, active flames again appear, and the process is further extended until the charge is reduced to ash. After a predetermined cycle time has been reached, based upon nearly twice the amount of refuse an average family will accumulate, the timer T is turned off and the cycle is completed,

The for go g escri tive matter a d the rawing r in all cases, to be interpreted as illustrative of the invention rather than as limiting the scope thereof, and it is to be understood that various changes may be made in various elements of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, or the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and

the like comprising:

a housing having a primary combustion chamber adapted to receive a charge of refuse; first burning means for igniting said refuse in said primary combustion chamber; an afterburner chamber communicating with said primary chamber; flue means for exhausing the combusion gases from said afterburner chamber; second burning means for drying and burning said refuse in said primary chamber; and grate means for supporting said charge for garbage; said second burning means being spaced above said grate means and comprising a horizontally disposed electric resistance heater element located under a downwardly opening shield spaced from said grate means.

2. A method of incinerating refuse, garbage, and the like comprising: placing a charge of refuse in a primary combustion chamber; igniting the combustible portion of said charge of refuse in said primary combustion chamber with a first heating element; igniting the combustible products of primary combustion in a secondary combustion chamber which communicates with said primary chamber with a second heating element; drying the unburned products remaining in said primary chamber with a third heating element; igniting said unburned products after they have been dried; and then turning off said first heating element while said second and third heating elements remain on.

3. An incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like comprising:

a housing having a primary combustion chamber adapted to receive a charge of refuse; first burner means for igniting said refuse in said primary combustion chamber; a secondary combustion chamber communicating with said primary chamber to receive the stream of combustion products therefrom; flue means for exhausing the combustion gases from said secondary combustion chamber: said secondary combustion chamber including second burner means for burning the combustible products of primary combustion, said second burner means including electrically operable heater means having open coil resistance wire dispersed in said secondary chamber to interrupt and ignite said stream of combustion products.

4. An incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and

the like comprising:

a housing having a primary combustion chamber adapted to receive a charge of refuse; first burner means for igniting said refuse in said primary combustion chamber; a secondary combustion chamber in communication with said primary chamber to receive the stream of combustion products therefrom; flue means for exhausing the combustion gases from said secondary combustion chamber;

said secondary chamber including a plurality of longitudinally disposed burner elements extending substantially the length of said secondary chamber for burning the products of primary combustion.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the afterburner is substantially elliptical in shape; means for admitting smoke and gases to said afterburner.

6. An incinerator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said open coil resistance wire passes to-and-fro across said chamber to cause said stream to follow a sinuous path while passing through said secondary chamber.

7. An incinerator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second burner means includes open coil resistance wire means passing to and fro across said secondary chamber to interrupt said stream of combustion products to cause said stream to follow a sinuous path while passing through said secondary chamber.

8. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said [first burner means extends upwardly of said second burner (means.

9. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said afterburner includes a secondary combustion chamber including burner elements having electric heater elements, said heater element means including open coil resistance wire means.

KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner.

1/ 1928 Kelly. 12/ 1950 Curry. 12/ 1962 Hemeon. 10/ 1950 Huber.

US. Cl. X.R. 

